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Hiroyuki Morita, a Japan-based designer has recently sent in the images of his latest project, the ‘Pata’ foldable chair. It is a utility piece of furniture that switches between a floor mat and a seat, with minimum fuss. Simply pull and tighten the connecting cord, the floor mat is then changed into a chair. Plus, the chair can be easily adjusted into different shapes, according to your needs. [Read the rest of this entry...]

The Surinate Bladder Management System, a medical device that is designed for men who suffer from urinary retention (an inability to empty the bladder), has gotten an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval recently and will be experimented in the United States soon. The Surinate system features a device that could be inserted into the urethra, not only bridging the bladder neck, prostrate and external sphincter, but providing a valved connection between the bladder and the bulbous urethra in the meantime. Remotely controlled by a magnet, the valve could be easily activated and adjusted. When the user wants to empty the bladder, he only needs to move the hand-held switching magnet closer to the check valve magnet, which will then be drawn away from the valve seat to let the urine flow out. According to the company, “the Surinate valved catheter is designed to remain in the patient for up to 30 days.”

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There’s an element of surprise in the Google Maps Envelops Concept, a collaborative project between Rahul Mahtani and Yofred Moik from the Industrial Design program at Syracuse University. It looks like a map, but it’s actually a special envelop for folks who still use snail mail. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Dubbed “Fincube”, the low-energy but high-tech residence is a collaborative work designed by Studio Aisslinger and hotelier Josef Innerhof as an option for Italy’s eco tourism. The beautiful and smart residence is built on a pedestal, allowing natural ventilation but reducing the adverse impact on the landscapes. Finished in local wood, Fincube includes a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom, ensuring the users a comfortable living when enjoying the fantastic views of Italy’s Dolomite Mountains. What makes Fincube look hi-tech is a central touchpad, which is used to control the whole residence. Easy to install, the Fincube can be easily dismantled and moved to other places. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Your baby has gotten much heavier? So it really kills you when you have to climb up the stairs carrying him/her in one hand and the stroller in the other? If you said yes to both the questions, what you need is rightly the “Step By Step”, a stylish stroller that climbs up and down the stairs easily. It comes with a system of tripod, which makes moving over stairs and bumps as smoothly and swiftly as it moves on the flat surface. The unique stroller also features a big tire to clear the obstacles in the front. To provide you much convenience, “Step By Step” is still lightweight and foldable, meaning an easy transportation and storage. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Unless you have a system worked out, you’re obviously familiar with the idea of “checking carefully” when handing out the currency notes in a dim light place. Designer Jaesik Heo, Hojoon Lim and Dahaeng Lim want to save you the trouble with Luminous Paper Money, which emits a soft light in the dark, reducing your risk of handing out wrong notes. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Clean and hygienic cups may be good for your health, but the large amount of electricity used to power the dish driers has become a matter of wrong for the nature and the nations worldwide. So why not just leave the cups upside down on the tables to have the water drain out? If you’re still worried about the wet cups sticking to each other when you are airing them, Seung Jun Jeong and Seo Young Moon would like to recommend the Stackable Cups. As you can see from the pictures, the cute cup features some toothlike projections, which allow the air to pass through the cups to have them dried up quickly while preventing them to stick together. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Wood can be used to produce newspaper, but have you ever imagined making the daily newspaper into wood? Though sounds incredible, that’s rightly the thing Mieke Meijer and Vij5 have created. The Newspaper Wood can be cut, milled and sanded, then presenting wood grain and the rings of a tree just like a real wood do. [Read the rest of this entry...]

321 — pronounced “three to one” — is a reusable water bottle, or more exactly a portable water purifier designed to provide clean water to travelers. The concept behind the simple name is quite impressive: three liters of water is required to manufacture merely one liter of bottled water, but you could save more water using the 321 Water. Besides, the product also helps to reduce the need of plastic bottles.

Designed by Gretha Oost, Paul Charlwood and Andrew Howley, the innovative water purification system is easy to use, all you have to do is to fill the bottle with tap water through a drip system and slot in the filter.

One filter can last 100 uses (about 50 liters) and it could be purchased separately. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Page Chaser is a flexible and folded bookmark that automatically shifts its position to mark the pages as they’re turned. Furthermore, you won’t lose your pages coz the new bookmark will stay attached to the book. Cheap, convenient and practical, Page Chaser obviously would attract everybody that loves reading and books. [Read the rest of this entry...]

The golden apple from the Greek mythology now appears on everyone’s table. Thanks to the Deli Garage, you can coat the apples, tomatoes, pears and whatever you like in edible gold or silver, which makes your food more attractive while not affecting the taste. [Read the rest of this entry...]

No doubt gums have the power to freshen your breath, but have you ever thought what the gums are destroying? Your clothes, computers, chairs, and most importantly the environmen…Yes, we find the chewing gum stick to different items from time to time, but we seldom find a better solution to that. Fortunately, Gonglue Jiang has come up with a practicable design, the “Green Seeds” (I love the name!). It features a dispenser that offers tear-away paper for you to wrap the gum when you’re done. And on the bottom there’s a container, which acts as a temporary dustbin to store the used gums, so that you won’t wadding up gum with your clothes or notepads. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Obviously the design shown here is a flat mat set, but it is also a table, a stool, and a chair. What, you don’t think so? Well, guys, after you lift the panels and fold them, you’ll find all those are possible. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Designed by Erik Lanuza, Taurus may influence the development of personal mobility a lot. It is a perfect combination of an electric-powered motorcycle and a Segway, featuring both a cooler look and a more comfortable riding. So no more awkwardly standing and leaning, what you need to do in the future is to ride on the Segway and go! [Read the rest of this entry...]

It seems like almost every time you use the faucet, there’s seldom a person advising you to conserve the water- but it doesn’t mean you needn’t do that. The good news is that you’ll never feel guilty of wasting the water coz you won’t have the chance any more. Designed by Eun ji Byeon, the Rotary Dial Style Faucet asks you to set the duration for the flow, therefore offering you enough water while not wasting too much. So 5 seconds for washing one hand, and another 5 for the other, is that enough? [Read the rest of this entry...]